Two major new developments for Sunshine Coast

A vast new leisure park and a five-star eco resort will open on the Sunshine Coast over the next two years.

The completion of the two major projects will coincide with the expansion of the Sunshine Coast Airport, which will open the region to long-haul international flights from 2020.

Developer Sanad Capital has revealed concept leisure park plans for its 25-hectare site at Steve Irwin Way near Australia Zoo, with contractors to be finalised over the next few weeks. The park will include glamping sites alongside a slew of leisure attractions including pool areas with aqua spray deck, kiddie boomerango, aqua sphere and mini slides.

The initial footprint covers eight hectares, with the design drawing on inspiration from glamping destinations like Al Maha in the United Arab Emirates, Longitude 131 at Uluru, and Amanwana in Indonesia.

In nearby Buderim, Sunshine Coast Council has given approval for the development of the Badderam Eco Luxe Resort & Spa.

The 111-room luxury resort, to be built in bush land on an ancient volcanic mountain known as Badderam to the local Kabi Kabi people, is the first major five-star hotel built on the Sunshine Coast for some 30 years and will celebrate Indigenous culture as part of its design remit.

It will also showcase state-of-the-art environmental initiatives, being built to a six-star green building rating and aiming to be Queensland’s first zero-waste eco resort.

Along with the usual pools, spas and restaurants, the resort will feature a wine tasting room and cellar, a crèche, a cookery school, a chauffeur service and Tesla electric vehicle fleet for complimentary guest usage

Both developments are timed to coincide with the opening of the airport expansion in 2020.

Sanad claims the new runway will “trigger a requirement for 1000 new beds to accommodate the growing visitation”.

CEO Bradley P. Sutherland said: “Luxury camping has become an appealing option for holidaymakers across the globe.

“The Sunshine Coast desperately requires more rooms to accommodate the rising tourism numbers, and with more and more families’ keen to have the glamping experience rather than staying in a hotel, we thought what better way to satisfy that demand than place a focus on it within our masterplan.

“It fits perfectly with our branding”.

Badderam’s developers, Heidi Meyer and Kim Carroll, said the eco-resort’s launch was also timed to coincide with the opening of the new runway.

“A new truly international standard of luxurious accommodation, the resort will provide the ultimate location for a revitalising holiday or executive retreat,” said Heidi.

“Expect also a discreet and beautiful venue to host an intimate wedding, conference, or event.”

Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Simon Latchford said the rapidly-growing region was becoming a “beacon” for domestic and international tourists looking for an environmentally and family friendly destination.

Chris Fozard of the Budget Motel Chain says the Victorian government needs to work with Airbnb to find a solution, instead of hastily introducing laws as a “knee-jerk reaction” to the issue of disruptive and violent guests.